October

Training new people at work – this is especially challenging, seeing as how I just learned what I am having to train, just a few short weeks ago. With things being new, that means EVERYONE is new, even the people that have been around for a while. So I, the trainer, have to answer questions from everyone, including the actual new people.

The lost credit card: I had a missed call and a text message that said, “Please call me asap” from Daniel one day. I knew something was up. He asked me if I had taken his credit card out of his wallet. I hadn't. And he said that it was missing. He went home and checked to see if it was on the computer desk. Nope. And he did check to see if there had been any action on our credit card – but none since I had gone to the grocery store. So he called the credit card company and cancelled our card. The lady said that we would get our card in 5 to 7 days. But then, she looked at our transaction log, we guess, and said that she would expedite our cards and that we would have them in a day or two. So we both felt better. Later, he did find the card under some things on the floor. It had fallen out of his wallet. We were glad to know that it hadn't been stolen. I was glad that he found it on the floor that day, than to wonder what had happened. Better to be smart, then feel dumb – than to be dumb, then even dumber. And we got the new cards, the NEXT day. They had been overnighted to us. Guess they really wanted us to spend money!

I got some new (awesome) jeans. And the first day that I wore them, the button popped off. It's hard to not read anything into that... But I kept telling myself “faulty button” - and that's probably what it was. So the next day, I took them back to the store. I was a little apprehensive about taking them back, since I had already worn them. But I was so excited about the fit and the wash – the jeans were great. I just wanted them to button. But the salesgirl was so nice – she said “of course we'll exchange them for you” and even went and pulled the new pair for me. And then I did some more shopping! You know, since I was there... I had a coupon for 20% the entire purchase – so I took advantage of that!

Fall is definitely here. We turned the heat on today (the 19th). It got down to 67 degrees in the house. And my nose was running. And with both of us being sort of sick, I didn't want to be cold too. The leaves are already covering the front lawn. And the rustling outside at night in the brisk air when walking the dog is a sure sign that cooler days are coming. I'm starting to like fall. It's a great season. I've learned to accept that summer leaves quickly, and not to try to hang onto it, but to embrace fall. I love the leaves falling. And it's still pretty warm during the day, so that I can open the sunroof and have the heat on a little – one of my favorite things to do!

Daniel went to Palm Springs for a conference. And that was when it was unseasonably cold here. Down to the 30s. Me and the dog were freezing, while he was telling me of 90 degree desert days! Poor thing! His luggage did get lost. He finally got it that first evening when he was there. But my suggestion of packing a change of clothes in his carry-on (which he didn't do) didn't seem so ridiculous then!

Went to see High School Musical 3 – in the theater. And since I'm not a mom, nor a 13 year old girl, I went with a friend from work and her son. He was dying to go, and she didn't really want to. So together, the 3 of us, had fun at the movie! And it was great. A wonderful guilty pleasure!

Gas Main Leak/Explosion:
I was heading home for lunch with Daniel – who was home for a “vacation” day. But when I was almost, there was a sheriff blocking the road. He said that I could turn left, or I could turn around. That the street was closed. I asked him if I could just go right there – my street – it was only about 10 yards away. And he said in a snarky voice that yes, even that street was closed. That there was a gas main explosion and that the whole area was being evacuated. I panicked! I tried to ask him where people were being evacuated to – if at all – but it didn't come out right – and he just got ruder. So after driving down the road, turning around, panicking, talking to Daniel – who hadn't heard anything about an evacuation – I ended up just going back to work. So I talked to Daniel about a hour later and he said that the sheriff had just come to the door and told him to leave. He did tell me that he had seen the explosion while he was walking the dog. The gas shot up in the air behind the house on the end of our street – about 3 stories high. He and the dog were “homeless” for 6 hours – she went to the vet, he went to a movie. He tried to go home about 5 pm – after picking up the dog from the vet – but the road was still closed. So he went and got dinner for us – and we ate together in the parking lot of my office – with the dog in the backseat. If I had been evacuating, I would have gotten valuable and supplies, just in case. The dog was getting hungry – and restless. But when he tried to go home the second time, the road was opened. Not the vacation day that Daniel had planned.

Halloween – Dressed up at work, sort of. We all just wore hats. So I got a cute wool newsboy hat that I could wear afterwards. Not a crazy, silly hat. I'm all about the useful.
And our trick-or-treaters – the first group – they were taking prayer requests, to pray for the people that they talked to at a bonfire they were having later. In the second group, a little girl found her lost kitten near our front steps. It was a great trick-or-treating time!
Then after the candy time – all 8 of them – we went to a concert. It was freezing!! But it was fun!

We have decided that if we are thinking about doing something, and we say “Eh” - and give some lame excuse, that we are going to go ahead and do it. Getting out there and enjoying life to its fullest!